Forlan returns a different player
Diego Forlan returns to England on Wednesday adamant he has nothing to prove.
The Villarreal striker was branded a flop during his spell at Manchester United but his goals have helped the Spaniards reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they meet Arsenal in the first leg at Highbury.
Forlan reluctantly left Old Trafford in the summer of 2004 after a disappointing spell which was memorable for the eight months and 27 games it took for him to hit the back of the net for the first time.
He has never said a word against United boss Alex Ferguson and blames his own lack of consistency in the first team as the reason why he never found his form.
“I am very happy here, it was not an easy decision to leave Manchester because it is a great club but things did not work out very well for me there,” he said.
“But we had a great season last year in which we qualified for the Champions League and I was top scorer in Europe.”
Since moving to Villarreal, a modest club on the outskirts of Valencia, Forlan has struck up a prolific partnership with midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme.
Scoring in his first game in the local derby against Valencia immediately endeared him to the Villarreal crowd but few expected him to have the impact he did, ending up as joint top scorer in Europe with Thierry Henry last season.
Villarreal finished third in the Primera Division and qualified for a place in the Champions League with an eclectic group of players put together by coach Manuel Pellegrini.
They have nine players from South America who have all bonded well playing a tight tactical system with Argentina international Riquelme the architect and Forlan the executioner.
Villarreal have built on their success last season by reaching the semi-finals and have already beaten Everton and Rangers and helped to knock out United at the group stage.
But, as Villarreal prepare to face Arsenal, Uruguayan Forlan denies their style of play is suited playing British teams.
“I don’t know what is the team’s secret though, we are young players and we enjoy playing football,” Forlan said. “Riquelme is a key player but we have a strong team spirit and we are all important.
“It is going to be a very difficult game and I do not think that there is anything particular about the way we play which has helped us to beat teams in the UK.
“We have done well against a lot of teams and it is just coincidence that they have come from there.
"They play a different style but we have proved that we are capable of dealing with that.”
Forlan missed the chance to play against his former side at Old Trafford in the group stage through injury but he is determined to show Highbury – and the rest of his critics in England – his true capabilities.
“I am looking forward to playing back in England but this is not a case of me proving anything to anyone,” he added. “I have nothing to prove.
“They can see what I have done here at a small club and that should be enough. I would like to go back one day but it would be a case of the right offer coming along.
“Everyone knows who the threats are from Arsenal – Henry is very dangerous as are other players and we will play a certain style of play to account for that.
“We will be tighter away from home, more cautious and then in the second leg depending on the result going into the game we will go out to win.”
